How we cite our quotes: (Part.Date.Paragraph) or (Part.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #4
When one of Queenie's Top Ten Fears materialized and her favorite brother Jamie the bomber pilot (the real Jamie) and his crew got shot down. Jamie spent a night floating in the North Sea and afterward had to have four frozen fingers and all his toes amputated. (1.16.XI.43.111)
This is on the list of times Maddie and Julie see each other during the year they are separated. Put spending the night in the North Sea up there on the list of things that are about as much fun as an air raid. It's like the worst game of "Would You Rather?" ever. Would you rather spend the night in the North Sea or operate an antiaircraft gun in an air raid? Ugh. No thanks to all of it.
Quote #5
"You know what they call this place?"
I raised my eyebrows, shrugging.
"Le Chȃteau des Bourreaux," she said.
I laughed rather too loudly again, crossed my legs, and examined the inside of my wrist.
(It is a pun, you see. Chȃteau de Bordeaux, Chȃteau des Bourreaux—Bordeaux Castle, Castle of Butchers.) (1.20.XI.43.27-31)
Proof that even in war, everyone appreciates a good pun. Extra points if you get or make a pun in a language you're not a native speaker of.
Quote #6
"It's not a nice job," Queenie whispered. "It's not like your job—blameless."
"I'm not blameless," said Maddie. "Every bomber I deliver goes operational and kills people. Civilians. People like my gran and granddad. Children. Just because I don't do it myself doesn't mean I'm not responsible. I deliver you."
"Blond bombshell," Queenie said, and spluttered with laughter at her own joke. Then she began to cry. (1.22.XI.43.166-168)
Here we're reminded that no one is completely blameless in war, and everyone gets roped into the killing, which is perhaps a good thing to remember when it's time to pick up the pieces.